ya
“ya” means “already” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
already, now
Also: yet
📝 In Action
¿Ya comiste?
A1Did you eat already?
El tren ya salió.
A1The train already left.
Ya entiendo.
A2I understand now.
¿Ya estás listo?
A2Are you ready yet?
no longer, not anymore
📝 In Action
Ya no vivo en Madrid.
A2I don't live in Madrid anymore.
Mi teléfono ya no funciona.
A2My phone no longer works.
Ella ya no quiere hablar conmigo.
B1She doesn't want to talk to me anymore.
later, eventually
Also: (no direct translation)
📝 In Action
Ya veremos qué pasa.
B1We'll see what happens later.
No te preocupes, ya te pagaré.
B1Don't worry, I'll pay you later.
Ya entenderás cuando seas mayor.
B2You'll understand eventually when you're older.
enough!, come on!
Also: I get it, right now
📝 In Action
¡Basta ya!
B1Enough already!
¡Cállate ya!
B1Be quiet now!
¡Ya, ya, entendí!
B2Okay, okay, I got it!
¡Vete ya!
B2Go away right now!
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "ya" in Spanish:
already→come on!→enough!→eventually→later→no longer→not anymore→now→🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ya
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I don't work here anymore'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'iam', which meant 'now', 'already', or 'at that time'. Spanish kept all of these related ideas of time in one short, useful word.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ya' and 'ahora'?
Good question! 'Ahora' specifically means 'right now'. 'Ya' can also mean 'now', but it often carries an extra feeling, like something has just changed. For example, 'Ahora estoy en casa' (I'm at home now). 'Ya estoy en casa' (I'm home now, implying I just arrived).
Can 'ya' mean 'yes'?
Not directly, but it can be used to agree with someone. If someone says 'We should leave', you might reply with 'Ya' to mean 'Right' or 'Okay, let's'. It's like a confirmation.
How do I know which meaning of 'ya' is being used?
Context is everything! Look at the other words in the sentence. Is there a 'no' nearby? (Meaning: 'no longer'). Is the verb in the past, present, or future? (Meaning: 'already', 'now', or 'later'). Is it shouted? (Meaning: for emphasis). With a little practice, you'll start to feel the differences automatically.